Palliative Care

When you or a loved one is experiencing a serious illness, there is often pain and other difficult symptoms. Palliative care can help you cope with the physical and mental effects of an illness, and help improve quality of life. According to the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care: National Consensus Project, “The number of individuals with a serious or life threatening illness continues to grow as a result of an aging population and advances in technology that allows increased longevity.”

Due to advances in technology, there is an increase in members who are reluctant to accept hospice services, with the implication for end of life care. For these members, palliative care is an option to respond to the patient and family needs.

Our Palliative Care ProgramThe Palliative Care Program at BlueCross BlueShield ensures that you receive the necessary services to support you while facing a serious illness. This program is a collaborative effort to plan, coordinate and monitor healthcare options and services that fit your needs. Through the use of service plan benefits and community based resources, your case manager will provide diverse, innovative, and integrated management of care.

Who is eligible for the program?In-home support is available for members residing in Western New York who meet the criteria. Case management support is offered to any member who is facing a progressive illness including, but not limited to: